Ground clamp holding tool



July .26, 19 9- c. w. HOFFMAN GROUND CLAMP HOLDING TO OL Filed Oct. 29,1945 RM W ATTORA'L' Patented July 26, 1949 UNITED sTArEs Nrff-oFncr.

This invention relates in general to tools and a The usual practice inassembling bonding or I.

ground clamps is to spring the clamp so that it can be forced onto themember to which the ground is being made and then forcing the ends ofthe clamp together with one hand while inserting the fastening device,such as bolt and nut, with the other hand. This procedure has been foundvery awkward and to facilitate the assembly or installation of suchground clamps I have provided a tool which can be applied to the clampto hold it in proper position for insertion of the fastenin means,leaving both hands free for the latter operation of applying andtightening the bolt and nut.

The objects of my invention, therefore, are, first, to provide anassembling tool for bonding clamps and the like which will hold theclamp in suitable position for insertion of a fastening means.

Second, to provide an assembling tool for bonding clamps which willaccommodate difierent sized clamps.

Third, to provide an assembling tool for bonding clamps and the likewhich will hold the clamp in suitable position for the reception of afastening means and which will lie close to the member to which thebonding clamp is applied so as not to interfere with the insertion ofthe fastenin means.

Further objects and advantages of this invention, as well as itsconstruction, arrangement and operation, will be apparent from thefollowing description and claim in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective of the tool of the presentinvention,

Figure 2 is a perspective of a bonding or ground clamp positioned whereit is to be fastened, and

Figure 3 is a perspective showing the tool of the present invention inoperation.

The tool I of the present invention is adapted to be used for holdingthe bonding or ground clamp 3 while it is being fastened by means of thebolt 1 and companion nut 9. Such clamps are commonly employed for makingelectrical ground connections, a, pipe 2 being a common structure usedfor a ground connection. The clamp 3 is first sprung over the pipe 2 asillustrated in Figure 2, at some selected position along its length.Under conventional practice, the clamp 3 is provided with the ears 5having holes amended April 30, 1928;370 0; G.'757) i 6 through which thebolt 'I is projected. Under prior-art practice the clamp 3 must be heldin encircling engagement with the pipe 2 ancl'with its holes 6 incoaxial alignment, and it must be so held opposed to its inherentresiliency with one hand while the bolt I is projected through the holes6 with the other hand, the clamp being so held until the nut 9 isthreaded onto the bolt. The manual operation is naturally awkward, andthe awkwardness of the operation is magnified when an electricalterminal 8 is included in the electrical connection of the assembly. Thedevice of the present invention makes the operation easy and less timeconsuming.

The device of the present invention comprises the piece I of rigid stripmaterial. A slot la, lb, 40 is provided in the piece I extendinglongitudinally thereof, and under preferred practice the piece is formedarcuate in the transverse direction. The disclosed arcuate structureinhibits bending of the tool under the strain applied to it transverselyby the inherent resilency of the clamp 3. The arcuate structure alsoconforms the piece I to the general contour of the clamp 3 and the pipe2, and the tool is thereby positionable well out of the way for the bolt1 when it is projected through the holes 6 and the nut 9 when it isthreaded thereon. Metal is a suitably rigid material for the piece I,and strip metal can be readily formed to provide the desired arcuatecontour. Also, strip metal is generally thin, enabling the tool I to bepositioned on the ears 5 away from the holes 6 where it will notinterfere with applying the bolt 1 and nut 9.

Under preferred practice as shown, the lengthwise slot is stepped at 4a,lb and 40 to provide different widths varying progressively lengthwiseof the piece I. The distance between ears 5 may vary within considerablelimits in different installations, and the steps 4a, 4b and 4c enable aslot width to be selected that is found most suitable for a givenassembly operation.

In usin the assembling tool, bonding clamp 3 is slightly sprung so thatit may be forced onto the pipe or like member 2 which is being selectedfor a ground connection. The ears 5 are forced toward each other withone hand and the slot of the tool I is projected over the ears 5 withthe preferred step 4a, 4b and 4c in engagement therewith to hold theholes Ii in alignment. The inherent resiliency of the bonding clamp 3forces the ears outwardly to bear against the sides of the slot, andthis holds the clamp 3 with its holes 6 in alignment for the bolt 1 tobe projected through them. Both hands of the operator are .nfi eldswhere gmundzclarnpstarenised.

2,476,980 V V 4 V factured andrused by or for the Government of theUnited States of America for governmental purposes without the paymentof any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed is:-

3 free to thread the nut 9 onto the bolt I, and also to position theterminal 8 onto the bolt before the nut is applied. Tightening of thenut 9 releases the resilient engagement of the ears 5 with the sides ofthe slot of the tool I, and when the iastening meansyhasheenesecurelymnunJhe-assembling tool is reafiiflyzemovedl V 3 -fidmz-ingtheimattachm'eiitfanch-coinpri'sing a piece i It will be noted that theassembling tool is ot'thin strip material,aslot in the pieceextendingshaped to substantially fit the contour 0! iihelongitud nally e e Sbeing pp to member to which the bonding clamp is being apmttprovidediiferent widths varying progressively plied and will not interferewith: piece being formed arcuate in its of the fastening means. I

From the foregoing it will'be' eiitthfitl 1 have provided a verysimpleztootellhifihmflm facilitate the installation of bonding ,clainpagThese clamps are used in great numbers imtir' ships and airplanes, andsimilmmlammesmmd for grounding purposes in eleetricakanditenhme 5 work.My assembling itool will be of value in all rtzansversedhtection.

" CHARLES WM. HOFFMAN.

1 "REFERENCES CITED 7 .I;t is to be.understooch.thatwariousmoditieatlonssandebhangesecanhe madeJnsthisJnXentinB-Mmb-..eut;fleparting"fromtther.spitittandeseeneathezeol as.setiorthlinethelapperidedzelaim.

f Thenn zentiqniiiescribed hereinemayebemnnu- 35; eleflQl-fiileA,toolgforehnlding groundeclamps. or the like fie-following referencesare of record in the V

